Barcelona’s right-back, Aleix Vidal, suffered a horrendous injury in the Catalan’s last domestic league game against Alaves. Barcelona will undoubtedly be understaffed for their high-octane finish to the season. What makes the injury all the more frustrating is its timing. The player had just got into shape from an injury and was injured in the final minutes of the game when his team were winning 6-0.
Clips indicated that the injury was pretty bad as the player twisted his ankle dangerously as he was being stretchered off. The Spanish side confirmed late on Saturday that the player has dislocated his ankle and won’t be playing until next season.
Manager Luis Enrique said, “We knew from the outset that he really hurt himself,” coach Luis Enrique said after the game. “It’s a shame for the player, the team and for Barca. Hopefully, he will recover well, that I am sure he will. It is something serious but we have to wait for the analysis of the doctors. Aleix’s exit troubled us. It is not nice to see a serious injury to a footballer, but he is in very good hands.”
Given that Enrique is now left with only Sergi Roberto in that position, who has looked uncomfortable there whenever played, the team is in real trouble. The season is yet to go a long way and Barca’s title challenge with Real Madrid is heating up.
Consequently, the Catalans are desperately weighing up options to fill the space until last summer with some free agents’ names doing the rounds. And a pretty shocking name has risen in former Chelsea wing-back Jose Bosingwa, according to reports in Spain.
The former Blues and Queens Park Rangers defender is currently without a club after leaving Trabzonspor at the end of last season and Barca are now weighing up whether to offer the 34-year-old a short-term deal until the summer.
Although former Juventus defender Martin Caceres has also been on their radar, Bosingwa looks a better option, given his touch with the game and better fitness. The former Portuguese international has experience at the highest level as he played in competitions like UEFA Champions league, Europa League Premier League, Liga NOS and more. He was once known for his blistering pace down the right flank that terrorised opponents.
A right-back by nature, he can play anywhere along the back line and could be a huge utility player for any team’s defence. A youth product of Boavista, Bosingwa joined FC Porto in 2003 and was in their famous Champions League winning squad under Mourinho. He repeated the feat at Chelsea too before being sold to QPR in 2013.
